Barking drum

ABSTRACT

A drum barker including an elongated drum arranged to rest in a horizontal position and supported for rotation by several systems of motor driven wheels placed in a row on both sides of the drum and for axial movement by a set of wheels engaging a pair of guiding rings situated on the drum. The drum is adapted to receive through one end the timber to be debarked. The inner surface of the drum is provided with projections for removing the bark, while the outer surface is provided with slots through which the detached bark is discharged. Alternatively, the outer surface is provided with a plurality of reinforcing hoops with a set of wheels symmetrically disposed on either side thereof. A spray system is included for spraying a liquid on the timber either as it enters the drum to soak the bark or as it leaves the drum to facilitate the removal of loose bark from the timber, or both. The spray system may also spray the rotating and axially movable drum and the system of wheels to reduce the friction between the outer surface of the drum and its points of contact with the system of wheels. Alternatively to, or in conjunction with, the spray system a parallel switching system may be utilized for equalizing the operation of the motor driven wheels.

United States Patent Koskinen 1 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] BARKING DRUM [57]ABSTRACT inventor! Raul") veikko Kofliillell, A drum barker including anelongated drum arranged litllskatu Pori, Finland to rest in a horizontalposition and supported for rotation by several systems of motor drivenwheels laced [22] 1970 in a row on both sides of the drum and for axial:nove- [211 Appl. No.: 88,332 ment by a set of wheels engaging a pair ofguiding rings situated on the drum. The drum is adapted to receivethrough one end the timber to be debarked. [30] Foreign ApphcamnPriority Data The inner surface of the drum is provided with projec-Nov. 12, 1969 Finland ..3260/69 tions for removing the bark, while theouter surface is provided with slots through which the detached bark[52] US. Cl. ..l44/208 B, 241/178 is discharged, Alternatively, theouter surface is pro- [51] Int. Cl. ..B27l 1/04 id d ith a plurality ofreinforcing hoops with a set Field 278 of wheels symmetrically disposedon either side thereof. A spray system is included for spraying a [56] ece Cited liquid on the timber either as it enters the drum to soak thebark or as it leaves the drum to facilitate the UNlTED STATES PATENTSremoval of loose bark from the timber, or both. The 1,386,930 8/1921Holm ..l44/208 B spray system may also spray the rotating and axially2,078,829 4/1937 Barratt ..241/l78 movable drum and the system of wheelsto reduce the 2,897,858 8/ 9 Hanson 8 B friction between the outersurface of the drum and its 3,185,192 5/1965 Delcelliefm 341/178 Xpoints of contact with the system of wheels. Alterna- 3,299,919 l/l967Saresvuo ..l44/208 B tively to or in conjunction with the spray System aparallel switching system may be utilized for equaliz- [hammer-FrankYost ing the operation of the motor driven wheels. AttorneyBums, Doane,Swecker & Mathis 10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures L? I .42 2/ e mi FLPATENTEDJ/m 2197s 3.708.001

sum 6 or 7 5W, DOM zw dh BARKING DRUM This invention relates to abarking drum, the cylindrical drum of which is supported by supportingwheels on both sides.

Barking drums described above, in which rubber tires contact the outersurface of the drum and which, or a part of which, tires are used tomake the drum rotate while serving as supporting wheels, are generallyknown. Known also are barking drums in which the axial steering of thedrum is accomplished by supporting wheels covered with rubber orprovided with rubber tires, and by steering hoops made of an angle barand fastened to the outer surface of the drum, the

bevelled side faces of which hoops come in contact with the steeringwheels, for instance with their airfilled rubber tires, when the drumstrives to move in its axial direction.

Further barking drums are known in which, byv moistening or otherwise,friction is reduced in all the points, where supporting or steeringwheels have a contact connection with the surface of the drum or of thesteering hoop.

It is known that the operating wheel or wheelworks are provided withdevices causing uniform operation, e.g., hydraulic motors running theoperating wheels with a common liquid feeding lead connecting both ofthem or possibly with a common liquid removal lead.

It has been found that in order to place as many supporting wheels andsteering wheels as possible in two lines in the longitudinal directionof the drum, the bearings of the supporting wheel, and/or of thesteering wheel, and/or of pairs of supporting and/or steering wheels arepositioned so that they are situated in the center of the wheels. Inaddition to corresponding wheelworks, parts supporting the bearings, andpossibly also the operation motor and/or parts attached to it areplaced, at least partially so that they are situated in the center ofthe above mentioned wheel or wheels, when seen vertically towards theaxis of the drum. When seen from said direction the bearing bracket orbrackets are located between two wheels or the pair of wheels orwheelworks, in the space therebetween are located a reinforcement hoop,or hoops, and/or removal openings of the casing with gathering funnelsof the casing.

In cases where the diameter of the drum is relatively large comparedwith its length, difficulties may turn up in obtaining a sufficientamount of supporting and steering wheels located on a drum side, and atthe same time to get space enough for reinforcing hoops, as well asremoval openings and gathering funnels of the casing. in object of thisinvention is to improve the situation on the outer surface of the drumdescribed above.

In order to make the invention clear, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, in which FIGS. 1-10 show barking drums alreadyknown and FIGS. 11,12, 13 the drum according to this invention and itssupporting and/or steering wheels.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a side view of a barking drum,

FIG. 2 is a top view of a barking drum, same as in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a barking drum according to FIGS. 1 and 2 seen from thefeeding or filling end,

FIG. 4 shows a barking drum according to previous figures seen from theremoval end,

' axes of the wheelworks,

FIG. 9 is a side view of a drum according to another realization formand FIG. 10 is an enlarged and partly cut side view of the supportingwheelwork of the previous drum,

FIG. 11 is a side view or seen in the direction of the axis of the drumof the supporting wheelwork with its operation motor and powertransmission devices according to this invention, FIG. 12 shows the sameas the previous figure but is a top view with some small changesbelonging to appearances of the devices and FIG. 13 is a partly cutsection from FIG. 11 taken along the line A-A in the direction ofarrows.

The level of the previously known technique will now be described withreference first to FIGS. 1-8.

According to this, the barking drum comprises a cylindrical drum 1,partly opened in its ends, which is provided along its inner surfacewith longitudinal ribs or barking irons or similar. projections 2 (FIGS.5 and 6) in order to improve the barking effect. Besides, one or moretransverse reinforcement hoops 3, 23 may be fastened to the innersurface of the drum. This kind of reinforcement hoops are shown indotted lines in FIG. 2.

Instead of, or in addition to, the hoop being fastened to the innersurface of the drum it is possible to attach a similar reinforcementhoop or hoops also to the outer surface of the drum, which also seems tobe advantageous in practice though such a reinforcement hoop fastened tothe outer surface is not shown in the drawings.

The drum 1 is arranged in a horizontal position againstseveralwheelworks aligned on both sides of the drum. In the shown case,four wheels 10 belong to each wheelworks 7, 8, 9 and are fastened sideby side to the horizontal axis 1, which axis is attached by hearings tobearing brackets mounted on a suitable base 12. Wheels 10 may beprovided with full rubber tires or with solid tires fastened to theirouter spheres or wheels may be provided like car tires with air-filledtires, for instance with car tires in the wearing surfaces of which aremade any kind of suitable figures, roughnesses, grooves or the like, asexist in car tires.

To rotate the drum 1 all wheelworks, or part of them, on the other orboth sides of the drum, for example, wheelworks shown in FIG. 1, mayserve as operation wheelworks run by electric motors 14 or by any otherengine or device for transmission of power.

When the barking drum is operating, trees for barking are continuouslyconveyed by some suitable apparatus through the feeding opening 18 (FIG.3) in the feeding end 4 into the drum 1. These are rubbed against eachother, against the wall of the drum and projections or barking irons 2,thus becoming stripped travelling to the removal end 5, where theydepart through the removal opening 19 (FIG. 4). Right close to this,water is squirted on the trees from the nozzles 20 to clean the treesfrom loose barks and other material. It is possible however, to arrangewaterspouts also as the feeding end of the drum in order to soak thebarks, and in winter time to melt frozen logs and ice stuck to them.Because of this, water coming to the feeding end will be sufficientlywarm or hot.

Reference mark 23 indicates the circular wall inside the drum, the innerdiameter of which is a bit larger than the inner diameter of thecircular wall 24 in the feeding end. Because of this, water squirted tothe feeding end gathers between the hoops 23 and 24 in running to theleft over the lower edge of the opening centered in the hoop 23according to FIG. 2. A part of warm water squirted to the drum thusstays, during a certain time, between the hoops 23 and 24 so that thewarming effect and the bark-soaking effect of water can be profitablyutilized in this manner. In front of and right close to the circularwall 24 that partly closes the feeding end, parallel to the plane of thehoop 24, there is a firm platelike wall 25, over the upper edge of whichlogs are fed into the drum. When the drum is rotating, the logs fed intoit travelling across the lower edge of the opening centered in the hoop23, spread towards the removal end, departing further on from theremoval end 5 through the opening 19 located therein to a conveyer, tobe transported forwards.

Barks loosened from trees depart through openings 21 on the surface ofthe drum 1 to funnels 22 on the sides of the drum, wherefrom they areconveyed further on to be handled with running water in water flumeslocated, for instance, beneath the funnels, or by conveyer belts.

Axial steering is carried out so that, on the outer surface of the drum,has been fastened a so called steering hoop or hoops 6, which togetherwith a supporting wheel or wheels of wheelworks 9 placedclose to themaccomplish the axial steering. Last mentioned supporting wheels ofwheelworks 9 may at the same time serve as operating wheels or, asusually is the the case, they do not serve as operating wheels. In caseaccording to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 the steering hoop 6 is made of angle barbent to the shape of a hoop. The outermost ends of the branches orflanges of the bar cross section touch the surface of the drum, whichthey are firmly attached to for instance by welding. Steering hoops 6can be manufactured also of angle bars, the angle between the flanges ofwhich is either larger or smaller than 90. When the drum strives to moveaxially to the right according to FIG. 7, the right-hand bevelledsurface of the angle bar strives to force to the right the side face ofthe air-filled tire 9. The upwards directed component of this forcingpower against the drum is not capable of lifting the drum to anynoteworthy degree because of the heavy weight of the drum and as aresult consequently willcause an air-filled tire to be flattened alittle from one side at in the point of contact with the steering hoop.

A pipe27 is mounted firmly in its place above the drum, as shown in'FIG.1, into which pipe water is conveyed in the direction of the arrow,spurting downwards as fine jets through holes, nozzles, or

. equivalent, in the pipe to the upper surface of the drum 1, which inthis manner is continuously kept damp. In

rolling against the damp outer surface of the drum, and I in surfacesthat come in the contact with rolling hoops 6 there occurs aconsiderably smaller wearing out than otherwise due to a small sliding,which thus originates between the outer surface of the drum or outersurfaces of steering hoops and outer surfaces of wheels. To prevent thissliding to become too significant, however, may the spurting of waterfrom the pipe 27 to the surface of the drum be regulated by, in itselfknown, suitable faucet devices or corresponding contrivances. Nozzlesmay also be of such a known quality or type that water arrives at thesurface of the drum as finely divided as possible, for example as fog.

Instead of the pipe 27 one may also use brush devices that are kept dampand that moisten the surface of the drum 1 or of steering hoops 6 whentouching them. Instead of, and in addition to a brush of a pipe orbrushes of pipes such as described above one may use for instancecloths, rags or pieces, plates or slabs of foamy plastics, which arekept sufficiently damp so that they will moisten the drum in desiredpoints.

In FIG. 8 is shown how water conveyed to the pipe 29 in the direction ofthe arrow is spurted as jets 30 from holes or the nozzle to wheels 10 ofwheelworks 7, 8, 9.

Since friction and sliding are greater at least periodically in contactpoints between tires of the wheelwork 9 and steering hoops 6 than incontact points of other tires 8 and the drum, one may, when needed,convey more water to wheels 9 by special nozzles. In some cases one maydirect the spurt straight to contact points of hoops 6 and wheels orwheelworks 9 especially, in regard to therotation direction, to pointsin front of said contact points. In some situations one may also spurtwater only to contact points of steering wheels or wheelworks 9 andsteering hoops 6 or to points close to them and entirely leave otherwheels and/or the surface of the drum unmoistened in other parts.

In lieu of water one may use other liquids also when needed and varioussolutions, emulsions, etc. In some circumstances it may be desirable,instead of or in addition to water, to use some solidslipperiness-causing substances, e.g., talcum powder or something likethat.

In addition to, or instead of, using above mentioned greasing and/orslipperiness causing substances one may also use parallel switching thatequalizes operation motors. This means that when for example wheelworksare run by hydraulic motors 14, to each motor is conveyed liquid underpressure through pipes 30, which are fed with liquid from a commonconnection pipe 31. Compressors 16, run by electric motors, feed liquidunder pressure through pipes 32 into pipe 31. One or more of thecompressors 16 may be at restgetting started according to the need ofpower appearing at each time.

Removal pipes 33 convey liquid from each of the hydraulic motors to acommon removal pipe 34, wherefrom liquid returns to compressors 16through a condensor equipment 17. When liquid under pressure is fed fromoperating compressors 16 to the common connection pipe 31, from which itso as to separate hydraulic motors 14 through feeding pipes 30 branchingoff the pipe 31, an equalizing common use for each of the hydraulicmotors is attained in this manner. If above described changes ofoutermost diameters of supporting wheels and steering hoops and ofdiameters of the outer surface of the drum cause some differences innumbers of revolutions between separate wheels and wheelworks, so motorscoming to rotate faster receive more liquid under pressure and motorsrotating slower receive respectively less liquid. Now because ofdifferences in numbers of revolutions wheelworks rotating slower do notcome to hold back the movement of wheelworks rotating faster.

Though no significant sliding strives to originate at contact pointsbetween wheels and the drum, so if nevertheless, for example inconsequence of too plentiful watergreasing described above frictionbetween some wheel or wheelwork and the drum would become so small thatthe operating wheelwork in question when operating would easily sliderelative to the surface of the drum, causing additional revolutions orso called rush revolutions to the motor in question. To provide againstthis kind of a danger one may, however, equip the liquid feeding pipesof the motor with special known accessory devices, which in these casesclose the flow of the liquid or throttle it small. If the motor in itsnormal use takes liquid, for instance one liter per minute, so theseaccessory devices do not give more liquid to it, preventing in this waythe danger of rush mentioned above in this way.

In cases when instead of hydraulic motors are used, for example usualelectric or alternating current motors, so due to above describeddifferences of diameters of operating wheels and the drum, andrespectively to differences in numbers of revolutions of operatingwheels, other motors would come to hold back the rotation of others.This is prevented by applying a so called common equalizing use ofelectric motors and/or by electric motors constructed and connectedrespectively.

It is also possible to carry out the equalizing common operation ofoperating wheels or wheelworks, for'example in the same way as theequalization of differences in numbers of revolutions of car-gears, byso called differential gears or by corresponding hydraulic contrivancesequalizing the numbers of revolutions.

The drum that will be described in the following with reference to FIGS.9 and 10 is otherwise similar to the drum according to previouslydescribed FIGS. l-8 but differs from it in regard to the mutualallocation of wheelworks, of reinforcement hoops 41, 42 outside thedrum, and of removal openings 21 and gathering funnels 22 of the casing.Thus the same reference marks have been used in FIGS. 9 and 10 to referto same or respective parts in FIGS. l-8, i.e., the parts of FIGS. 9 and10 operating in a corresponding to the parts in FIGS. 1-8.

As is shown in FIG. 10 a bearing bracket 13 is situated in the middle oftwo pairs of wheels comprising the wheels of wheelworks 8 and 9.Air-filled rubber tires 36 (FIG. 10) are mounted to spheres 37 of wheelswhich are attached side by side to a center support 38 which is inconnection with an axis 39 that is able to rotate resting upon ball orroller bearings 40 supported by the bearing bracket 13. In this waybearings as a whole, and a tubular part of the bearing bracket to somedegree, are placed inside the tires of the pair of wheels. It ispossible then to locate more wheels side by side in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the drum, particularly when also the part 45connected to the axis 39 of the hydraulic motor is partially situated inthe center of the tire of the wheel.

As is shown in FIG. 9, in the place or area of bearing brackets i.e.,within the remaining space between paris of wheels in the longitudinaldirection of the drum, are located either the gathering funnels of thecasing, in the place or area of which are situated the removal openings21 of the casing on the surface of the drum. Possibly in addition tothem reinforcement hoops 41 may be situated outside the drum beside theremoval openings of the casing and being engaged to the drum, or broaderreinforcement hoops 42 situated elsewhere on the surface of the drum.

As shown in FIG. 10, space 43 remains between two pairs of wheels andhaving a dimension just to a proper extent, also in the radial directionfrom the drum, so that gathering funnels of the casing fit in this spacein the axial as well as in radial direction of the drum as well asreinforcement hoops located outside. In this way it is possible to placeon an outer surface of a barking drum, having even a very largediameter, a sufficient amount of reinforcement hoops and yet there willbe supporting wheels in a proper degree.

Of course supporting wheels could be placed beneath the drum also in twolines placed one on top of the other, but the supporting capacity of theupper line would then remain relatively small, since the drum due to itscurvature would at that time strongly strive to be wedged between uppersupporting wheels. Under these circumstances it is important that thereare supporting wheels only in one line on both sides of the drum andjust in such a place, that the upward effective drumbearing component ofpressure of the supporting wheels, which pressure is effective towardsthe center of the drum, is large enough. On the other hand, however,lines of wheels have to be spaced from each other so that the drum keepswell between these lines of wheels supported by wheels. Using theconstruction described above it is possible to place supporting wheels,in a proper degree in two lines in the longitudinal direction of thedrum, the drum being also very large in its diameter and relativelyshort axially at the same time.

The wheelwork according to this invention, with its operation devicesthat will be described in the following in reference to FIGS. 11, 12 and13, is otherwise similar to the one shown before in FIGS. 9 and 10described basically, but differs from it among other things in it thatinstead of the hydraulic motor an electric motor has been used as apower source, e.g., an usual short circuit motor 50 placed and connectedto the wheelwork in a certain way. Thus in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 the samereference marks have been used to indicate the same or similar parts asin FIGS. l-10 and which operate in a corresponding way. The axisof theelectric motor is connected to the primary or operation axis 53 of thegear wheelwork 52 through a hydraulic coupling 51. The gear wheelworkmay be considered to be constructed inside the bearing bracket ofsupporting wheels, or the gear wheelwork 52 may be considered as servingas a bearing bracket of the supporting wheels 37, 39 at the same timewhen the secondary axis or operation axis of the gear wheelwork servesas the axis 39 of the pairs of supporting wheels.

As described above, slight differences in numbers of revolutions ofseparate wheels or wheelworks may appear when the drum is rotating dueto small differences of the diameter of the drum in several places aswell as to differences of diameters of supporting wheels that which maybe consequences of unequal atmospheric pressures in tires, of wearingaway etc. This kind of differences in numbers of revolutions may bepermitted though a separate short circuit motor independently used ineach of the supporting wheelworks, this being made possible by thehydraulic coupling 51.

The utilized hydraulic coupling 51 may be of known construction and mayoperate according to known principles, for example in which the motoroperates a paddle wheel or turbine or corresponding device inside thecoupling through the used utilized axis of the hydraulic coupling, whichmakes the liquid in the hydraulic coupling flow. This flow operatesanother paddle wheel, turbine or corresponding device in the hydrauliccoupling thus rotating the axis that operates the hydraulic coupling,which is firmly fastened to the primary axis 53 of the gear wheelwork.

Now, for instance, upon starting the barking drum very great differencesin numbers of revolutions may exist between the operation and used axesi.e., the input and output axes of the hydraulic coupling. This onlycauses a liquid flow greater than normally between the used paddle wheeland the wings of the turbine and a warming up of the liquidrespectively. In normal operation circumstances, however, numbers ofrevolutions of the used and operation axes of the hydraulic coupling aresame or substantially the same.

The hydraulic coupling makes possible also the slight differences ofnumbers of revolutions due to slight differences of the diameters of thebefore described drum and of the operation wheels.

Also in the case, when for example because of a too plentifulwater-greasing or of some other reason, friction between operationwheels 37, 36 would become too small, in which case for example usingthe hydraulic motor as a power source so called rush revolutions wouldstrive to occur, no corresponding phenomenon will appear when using theelectric motor and the hydraulic coupling and no safety contrivances areneeded for it. If due to some exceptional disturbances in operation themovement of some operation wheel or wheels would entirely become heldback to a standstill,

.then in the hydraulic coupling there occurs only more abundant flow ofliquid between the utilized paddle wheels and a warming up of theliquid, but the motor may operate with a normal or nearly normal numberof revolutions.

The diameter of a toothed wheel 54 attached to the secondary axis of thegear wheelwork, being at the same time the axis of the supportingwheelwork has to be so small that the distance of the bearing bracket inthe radial direction from the drum provides a sufficiently large area 43between the pairs of wheels, to enable the gathering funnels of thecasing, as well as reinforcement hoops located outside (in a way shownin FIG. 9), to fit in this area.

When electric motors may be attached to through the gear wheelwork onthe sides of the gear wheelworks, shown in FIGS. ll-13, then bysubstituting the hydraulic pressure motor with an electric motorconnected to the gear wheelworks, the space'(FlG. 9)

taken by the hydraulic motor 14 becomes free and the number ofwheelworks in the same line may be increased. Thus, the percentage ofthe wheelworks utilized may be gained very high upon placing wheelworksside by side in the longitudinal direction of the drum. By leaving asmall space between the wheelworks, it is possible to get hold of thewheelworks at their ends and detach, when needed, wheels 36, 37 withouta necessity to remove the hydraulic motor.

The invention is not restricted to performance examples described abovebut may vary in many ways within the limits of claims presented in thefollowing. For example the axis of the electric motor 50 may be parallelwith the axis of the drum, with the motor placed, however, close to theoutermost part of the gear wheelwork.

lclaim: l. A drum barker comprising: a cylindrical drum, said drumincluding:

opening means for receiving material to be barked,

and bark discharge opening means disposed around the outer periphery ofsaid drum; guide ring means disposed around said drum; a plurality ofwheelworks disposed along opposite sides of said drum, said wheel worksincluding: a plurality of axially spaced wheels;

at least the outer portion of each wheel being composed of a resilientmaterial and being arranged to contact and support the outer peripheryof said drum; bearing bracket means including:

bearing carrier means, and bearing means mounted on said bearing carriermeans for rotatably supporting said wheels; said bearing carrier meansand said bearing means being disposed within the axial extent of saidwheelwork as defined by end wheels of said wheelwork; at least one ofsaid wheelworks on each side of said drum being arranged to engage saidguide ring means to resist axial movement of said drum. 2..A drum barkeraccording to claim 1 and further including:

axle means interconnecting said wheels; motor means being provided fordriving respective ones of at least some of said wheelworks; each motormeans including a drive shaft being aligned with said axle means, andbeing at least partly disposed within an end one of said wheels. 3. Adrum barker according to claim 1 and further including:

axle means interconnecting said wheels;

said plurality of wheels including at least two wheels being axiallyspaced; said bearing means including a pair of bearings disposedadjacent opposite ends of said axle means; said bearing bracketincluding a gear housing extending within the space between said twospaced wheels; gear means being mounted in said gear housing and beingoperatively connected to said axle means; and

motor means disposed on a side of said bracket means away from saiddrum, and being operatively connected to said gear means for drivingsaid wheels.

4. A drum barker according to claim 3 wherein:

said at least two wheels comprises two pairs of wheels said gear housingbeing disposed between the innermost wheels of said pairs;

said motor means comprising an electric motor,

5. A drum barker according to claim 4 and further including:

a hydraulic coupling being operatively interconnected between said motorand said gear means.

6. A drum barker according to claim 5 wherein:

the power output axis of said motor extends generally perpendiculartoward a vertical plane through the axis of said drum, and is alignedwith the input axis of said gear means.

7. A drum barker according to claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of wheels include at least two wheels spaced axially;

said bearing means including a support housing disposed in the spacebetween said spaced wheels;

said bark discharge openings being disposed adjacent the space betweensaid spaced wheels;

a gathering funnel being arranged externally of said discharge openingsbetween the space between said spaced wheels.

8. A drum barker according to claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of wheels include at least two wheels spaced axially;

said bearing means including a support housing disposed in the spacebetween said spaced wheels; and

reinforcing hoop means being arranged around the outer periphery of saiddrum and being disposed within the space between said spaced wheels.

9. A drum barker comprising:

a cylindrical drum, said drum including:

opening means for receiving material to be barked,

and bark discharge opening means disposed around the outer periphery ofsaid drum;

a plurality of wheelworks disposed along opposite sides of said drum,each of said wheelworks includmg: at least two axially spaced wheels;

at least the outer portion of each wheel being composed of a resilientmaterial and being arranged to contact and support the outer peripheryof said drum; axle means interconnecting said wheels; bearing bracketmeans including:

bearing carrier means, and a pair of bearings mounted on said bearingcarrier means within said spaced wheels for rotatably supportingopposite ends of said axle; gear housing means extending within thespace between said spaced wheels; gear means being mounted in said gearhousing and being operatively connected to said axle means; and motormeans disposed on a side of said bracket

1. A drum barker comprising: a cylindrical drum, said drum including:opening means for receiving material to be barked, and bark dischargeopening means disposed around the outer periphery of said drum; guidering means disposed around said drum; a plurality of wheelworks disposedalong opposite sides of said drum, said wheel works including: aplurality of axially spaced wheels; at least the outer portion of eachwheel being composed of a resilient material and being arranged tocontact and support the outer periphery of said drum; bearing bracketmeans including: bearing carrier means, and bearing means mounted onsaid bearing carrier means for rotatably supporting said wheels; saidbearing carrier means and said bearing means being disposed within theaxial extent of said wheelwork as defined by end wheels of saidwheelwork; at least one of said wheelworks on each side of said drumbeing arranged to engage said guide ring means to resist axial movementof said drum.
 2. A drum barker according to claim 1 and furtherincluding: axle means interconnecting said wheels; motor means beingprovided for driving respective ones of at least some of saidwheelworks; each motor means including a drive shaft being aligned withsaid axle means, and being at least partly disposed within an end one ofsaid wheels.
 3. A drum barker according to claim 1 and furtherincluding: axle means interconnecting said wheels; said plurality ofwheels including at least two wheels being axially spaced; said bearingmeans including a pair of bearings disposed adjacent opposite ends ofsaid axle means; said bearing bracket including a gear housing extendingwithin the space between said two spaced wheels; gear means beingmounted in said gear housing and being operatively connected to saidaxle means; and motor means disposed on a side of said bracket meansaway from sAid drum, and being operatively connected to said gear meansfor driving said wheels.
 4. A drum barker according to claim 3 wherein:said at least two wheels comprises two pairs of wheels said gear housingbeing disposed between the innermost wheels of said pairs; said motormeans comprising an electric motor,
 5. A drum barker according to claim4 and further including: a hydraulic coupling being operativelyinterconnected between said motor and said gear means.
 6. A drum barkeraccording to claim 5 wherein: the power output axis of said motorextends generally perpendicular toward a vertical plane through the axisof said drum, and is aligned with the input axis of said gear means. 7.A drum barker according to claim 1 wherein: said plurality of wheelsinclude at least two wheels spaced axially; said bearing means includinga support housing disposed in the space between said spaced wheels; saidbark discharge openings being disposed adjacent the space between saidspaced wheels; a gathering funnel being arranged externally of saiddischarge openings between the space between said spaced wheels.
 8. Adrum barker according to claim 1 wherein: said plurality of wheelsinclude at least two wheels spaced axially; said bearing means includinga support housing disposed in the space between said spaced wheels; andreinforcing hoop means being arranged around the outer periphery of saiddrum and being disposed within the space between said spaced wheels. 9.A drum barker comprising: a cylindrical drum, said drum including:opening means for receiving material to be barked, and bark dischargeopening means disposed around the outer periphery of said drum; aplurality of wheelworks disposed along opposite sides of said drum, eachof said wheelworks including: at least two axially spaced wheels; atleast the outer portion of each wheel being composed of a resilientmaterial and being arranged to contact and support the outer peripheryof said drum; axle means interconnecting said wheels; bearing bracketmeans including: bearing carrier means, and a pair of bearings mountedon said bearing carrier means within said spaced wheels for rotatablysupporting opposite ends of said axle; gear housing means extendingwithin the space between said spaced wheels; gear means being mounted insaid gear housing and being operatively connected to said axle means;and motor means disposed on a side of said bracket means away from saiddrum, and being operatively connected to said gear means for drivingsaid wheels.
 10. A drum barker according to claim 9 wherein: said motorcomprises an electric motor; and a hydraulic coupling being operativelyconnected between said motor and said gear means.